Walk in a nutshellA flat, linear walk through one of Europe's most important wetlands. Apart from the last 100m, it follows a hard-surfaced path.

Why it's specialThe National Trust's oldest nature reserve is a remnant of a huge area of wetland that once stretched from Cambridge to the Wash, yet Wicken Fen still covers almost 270 hectares (610 acres). The fen can boast more than 230 species of bird, 30 types of mammal, 1,100 sorts of moth, 250 families of spiders and 400 kinds of fungi. It can be a surprisingly noisy place, what with the barking of the muntjac deer, the croaking of the frogs, the quacking of the widgeons …

Look and listen out forFaint lights near the ground, especially in June and July. They are beetles known as glow-worms. The wingless females give off light to attract flying males.

But bear in mindAs well as flatness, the Fens are famous for mosquitoes. Don't forget your repellent.

How to get thereBy car: The fen is 17 miles north-east of Cambridge via the A10 and A1123.

Step by step

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1 Turn left out of the car park. Continue in a straight line past the entrance to the visitor centre along the hard-surfaced path (waymarked NCN11). Shrubs and trees are on your left; the reed-edged water of Wicken Lode is on your right – take care to stay on the paths.

2 After 450m follow the path round to the left, and then turn right across the footbridge of Monk's Lode. The bridge is wide, but has no hand rails.

3 Turn left to follow the path, keeping Monk's Lode on your left. After 100m turn right off the hard-surfaced path on to the grass path. Within 10m the landscape broadens to give you views over Baker's Fen.